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Breaking Bad
S1.E1
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Pilot

  • Episode aired Jan 20, 2008
  • TV-MA
  • 58m
IMDb RATING
9.1/10
58K
YOUR RATING
Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad (2008)
On this spoiler-filled IMDbrief, we break bad and break down the "Breaking Bad" finale part two: 'El Camino' (2019).
Play clip3:36
Watch 'El Camino' Cooks Up "Breaking Bad" Easter Eggs
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Drug CrimeTragedyCrimeDramaThriller

Diagnosed with lung cancer, high-school chemistry teacher Walter White teams with ex-student Jesse to cook meth in an RV, using science -- and sudden violence -- to secure their first batch ... Read allDiagnosed with lung cancer, high-school chemistry teacher Walter White teams with ex-student Jesse to cook meth in an RV, using science -- and sudden violence -- to secure their first batch and escape two lethal dealers.Diagnosed with lung cancer, high-school chemistry teacher Walter White teams with ex-student Jesse to cook meth in an RV, using science -- and sudden violence -- to secure their first batch and escape two lethal dealers.

  • Director
    • Vince Gilligan
  • Writer
    • Vince Gilligan
  • Stars
    • Bryan Cranston
    • Anna Gunn
    • Aaron Paul
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    9.1/10
    58K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Vince Gilligan
    • Writer
      • Vince Gilligan
    • Stars
      • Bryan Cranston
      • Anna Gunn
      • Aaron Paul
    • 109User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    'El Camino' Cooks Up "Breaking Bad" Easter Eggs
    Clip 3:36
    'El Camino' Cooks Up "Breaking Bad" Easter Eggs

    Photos90

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    Top Cast29

    Edit
    Bryan Cranston
    Bryan Cranston
    • Walter White
    Anna Gunn
    Anna Gunn
    • Skyler White
    Aaron Paul
    Aaron Paul
    • Jesse Pinkman
    Dean Norris
    Dean Norris
    • Hank Schrader
    Betsy Brandt
    Betsy Brandt
    • Marie Schrader
    RJ Mitte
    RJ Mitte
    • Walter White, Jr.
    Max Arciniega
    Max Arciniega
    • Krazy-8
    John Koyama
    John Koyama
    • Emilio
    Steven Michael Quezada
    Steven Michael Quezada
    • Steven Gomez
    Marius Stan
    • Bogdan Wolynetz
    Aaron Hill
    Aaron Hill
    • Jock
    Gregory Chase
    • Dr. Belknap
    • (as Greg Chase)
    Carmen Serano
    Carmen Serano
    • Carmen Molina
    Evan Bobrick
    • Chad
    Roberta Marquez Seret
    • Chad's Girlfriend
    • (as Roberta Marquez)
    Christopher Dempsey
    Christopher Dempsey
    • E.M.T.
    Allan Pacheco
    • Irving
    Jason Byrd
    • Chemistry Student
    • Director
      • Vince Gilligan
    • Writer
      • Vince Gilligan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews109

    9.157.8K
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    Featured reviews

    10Johnny-the-Film-Sentinel-2187

    The pilot that started it all!

    Breaking Bad comes RIGHT out of the gate: with Walt driving a filthy RV in the New Mexico desert, in his underwear. A television phenomenon starts right here in a bald, absurd and beautiful fashion. Bryan Cranston is a man freaking out about the current predicament he's in, and we get how difficult everything's become for him, before we even get to the title of the show. Vince Gilligan doesn't try to second-guess his audience's smarts. He starts the series where the story's already started, and then he takes us back to catch our breaths.

    This pilot single-handedly launched the classic television show that has come to be the template of writer-driven television and its potential to have PHENOMENAL storytelling. The pilot gives us a taste-test of what we're to expect from the rest of the show, but it leaves us wanting more: in the most satisfying way. We're EAGER to see what happens next instead of begrudgingly thinking we should. This show is its own drug.

    If you haven't already seen the Breaking Bad series please do yourself a favour and watch asap! You're missing out on pop-cultural history right here!
    9andrewkempf

    A great start

    I've heard a lot about this show from numerous friends, and reading multiple times online that it's among the greatest shows ever, if not the greatest. This first episode already has me hooked. Walter White has already shown that he's a mad genius. I'm intrigued by the Jesse Pinkman character, as I see a lot of potential for a lot of character development on his part. It was a great first episode.
    10squirtsquirt7

    One of the greatest pilots of all time

    Everything is perfect about the opening to Breaking Bad. The first scene catches your attention, the impeccable acting by Cranston keeps you watching, and the wonder how it got to that point sucks you in. Perfectly paced, written and acted. A wonderful start for one of the greatest shows of all time.
    10and_mikkelsen

    Amazing pilot!

    After all this time this still remains one og the greatest TV pilots that perfectly sets the tone for the series as well as establishing premise, story and characters! The journey of Walter White begins here and I love how they manage to make it convincing by showing us his Daily life and adding some extra layer of conflict to set things on motion!

    The episode perfectly balances humor amd serious issues with a couple of.dramatic sequences to give you a taste of whats to come! Knowing how it ends i also love how much can be Tracey back to this episode!

    Breakimg Bad is one of my favorite shows as well as one of the best written shows along with Better Call Saul and Attack on Titan! Always loves to come back to it!
    9Mr-Fusion

    One hell of a kickoff!

    The image of a show's main character in the middle of the road, without pants, ready to shoot it out with the approaching police . . . that's some ace cliffhanger material. Yet it's the first thing anyone sees!

    An exhilarating hour of television, this pilot deals effortlessly with the unenviable amount of setup that "Breaking Bad" requires. Portrait of a man beaten down by mediocrity suddenly liberated by a cancer diagnosis, Walter White is the guy you feel sorry for, but you also desperately want the guy to snap out of his suburban malaise and grab life by the balls (played with no shortage of intensity by Bryan Cranston). This intro lays out the conflict and colorful supporting characters and laces it with excellent dark humor. As fun as it is to see this guy at the end of his rope, it also demands that you return for next week.

    I've been telling people for years to ignore the hype and just give the first episode a shot. And for good reason; it's one of the best pilots I've ever seen.

    9/10

    Related interests

    Wendell Pierce and Dominic West in The Wire (2002)
    Drug Crime
    Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea (2016)
    Tragedy
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe, André Holland, Herman Caheej McGloun, Edson Jean, Alex R. Hibbert, and Tanisha Cidel in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A professor at the University of Southern California gave Bryan Cranston lessons in chemistry basics for the series, so Cranston was able to correct some writer's mistakes. An actual DEA agent showed the crew and the cast how to make crystal meth. However, some steps were always omitted from the filming to avoid anyone using the show as a "how to" guide.
    • Goofs
      The names (in the opening credits) contain capitalized letter(s) shown in a different color, referring to the chemical symbols of elements of the periodic table of the elements. In the opening credits of the first two seasons, one of them mistakenly implies that Ch is an element. This mistake is corrected in the following seasons.
    • Quotes

      Walter H. White: Chemistry is, well technically, chemistry is the study of matter. But I prefer to see it as the study of change.

    • Crazy credits
      In the beginning of the opening credits, the formula and molecular weight of Methamphetamine - C 10 H 15 N and 149.24 - flash on the screen.
    • Alternate versions
      The version of the pilot episode that was broadcast on IFC (Independent Film Channel) was uncensored and complete uncut. It was around one minute longer than the original aired version on AMC, who censored for example naked breasts via soft focus lens (when Walter watches Jesse escaping through the window Jesse's girlfriend is naked and throws his clothes out).
    • Connections
      Featured in The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Come on Home and Have Your Next Affair With Me
      Performed by Stonewall Jackson

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 20, 2008 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • Romanian
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Der Einstieg
    • Filming locations
      • 3828 Piermont Dr NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA(Walter & Skyler White's home)
    • Production companies
      • High Bridge Productions
      • Gran Via Productions
      • Sony Pictures Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 58m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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